Museum is synonymous with arts. It is a storehouse of arts and cultural materials for the purpose of education, research and entertainment. It is open to the public and enhances the people’s understanding of their historical past, their present, and helps to project into their future taking into consideration the dynamic nature of culture itself. As museum continued to respond to societal needs, the emphasis on its activities centred around a building or buildings became less dominant. Today, there are open air museums comprising buildings and monuments preserved as eco-museums.
The first known museum was established in the University of Alexandra in Egypt in the 3rd Century BC. In Nigeria, the first museum to establish was the Esie soapstone museum in 1943. Today, Nigeria has over 52 national museums.
Museum is a public service institutional organization. Museum activities worldwide are coordinated by the International Council of Museum (ICOM). The significance of the museum is better understood in its functions. The functions vary from one museum to another. Collection of objects of heritage (cultural) is one of the major functions of the museum. It is the collections that make the museum and there are different classes of collections. The main focus of this article is on cultural collection.
Many of our cultural objects are buried in the ground. The museum archaeologist goes to the field and digs up some of these objects, subjects them to scientific analysis and comes up with information that helps the public to come to terms with their past. These objects after proper examination are exhibited for public view. They also form the core of research works by academic and cultural historians.
Museum also helps in promoting socio-cultural development and advancement of the people by organizing and sponsoring cultural shows, festivals and events. Over the years, the museum has partnered with national and state councils for arts/culture to showcase our rich cultural heritage in form of festivals. A typical example is the yearly Osun Osogbo Festival in Osogbo ,Osun State. Every year, the Osun Osogbo grove is a beehive of activities attracting visitors from across the globe. The festival has raised the socio-cultural as well as economic life of the host community to an enviable height. An Osogbo man/woman can boldly declare his or her nationality anywhere in the world and will be held in very high esteem.
Apart from festivals, the museum also partners with organizations like the PMAN (Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria), the guild of actors, etc., in promoting artists and musical icons. It also works in collaboration with the tourism and hospitality industry. For instance, the museum education department always organizes craft exhibition, training and skill acquisition programmes focusing on youth and students. Here, different arts/crafts are taught to the school children, e.g., bead making, soap making, tie and dye, hand fans, pottery, etc. These are veritable aspects of our rich cultural heritage to which our children are being expose. This has helped in sharpening their mindset and arresting their mind for positive ventures, thereby reducing their tendency toward juvenile delinquencies. In fact, outreaches and community services are key role and contribution of museum to the socio-cultural development of our country.
Museum collections not only expose the people to their past but also reconnect them and foster social interactions. People get the opportunity to socialize when they visit exhibition stands. It also helps people to understand and appreciate other people’s cultures, norms and values, thereby fostering national peace and unity. Visit a museum today and be better informed about your culture.
